Best Redux LLC Podcasts (2025)

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Ep.294: History Mystery 28:19

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22h ago28:19

28:19

Jon and Kurt decide to scratch their history itch by having a conversation about some of the world’s greatest unsolved history mysteries. Of course, this being Jon and Kurt, they meander a bit off topic, but do manage to come back each time to probe and theorize what the hell happened.By Smart Drivel Media LLC

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Ep.293: Money Makes the World Go ‘Round 38:56

16d ago38:56

38:56

Money. We love it. We hate it. We crave it. We spend it. Money, in all its forms, has been an integral part of all societies. Whether it was huge stones, salt, emu feathers, or trillion dollar bills, it has always had dominion over civilization. In this episode, Jon and Kurt look into the history, the absurdity, the logic, and the just plain funny …

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Ep. 292: Fuzzy Balls 35:28

1M ago35:28

35:28

It all started with a simple question: why are manhole covers round? And then it grew from there…why are eggs always sold in a dozen? Why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk? Why do round pizzas come in a square box? And an episode was born. Come listen to Jon and Kurt ask each other these enigmatic questions and have some fun along the way.…

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Ep. 291: Hats Off To You 36:10

1M ago36:10

36:10

Jon and Kurt decide to look at famous hats throughout history and fiction. That’s right. Hats. What started as a random thought turned into a fertile patch of fun, interesting, and previously unknown stories about hats in legend, historical fact, pop culture, and literature. Slip off your chapeaux and take a listen.…

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Ep. 290: So You Think You’re Special? 39:17

2M ago39:17

39:17

No matter how smart or talented you think your kids are, there are those among us who are just special. Amazing. Mind blowing. These are the child prodigies. The ones in history who are so talented they were doing incredible things at such a young age. Like Mozart. Like the kid who was giving public lectures at 4. Like Joan of Arc who led the Frenc…

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Ep. 289: Power Couples (redux) 26:40

2M ago26:40

26:40

Jon and Kurt have a little forum about the most amazing couples ever. Those from fiction. From wars. From the bible. From the arts. From politics. From legend. Forged in love or in greed, these couples all have a fascinating story to tell.By Smart Drivel Media LLC

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Ep. 288: Surprising Acronyms (redux) 25:19

2M ago25:19

25:19

Did you know Time magazine was actually an acronym? In this episode, Jon and Kurt have fun with explaining, finding, and debating fun acronyms that are used in every day conversation. Please RSVP...if you want to be redundant.By Smart Drivel Media LLC

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Ep. 287: Dumber and Dumb Doesn't Sound Right 30:12

2M ago30:12

30:12

Gin & Tonic. Salt & Pepper. Fish & Chips. Done & Dusted. Bread & Butter. Sonny & Cher. Earth Wind & Fire. Lock Stock & Barrel. Signed Sealed & Delivered. All of these examples are what are called Irreversible Binomials & Trinomials. The cute phrases or names that ALWAYS appear in the same order. That sound really stupid if switched–”Jelly and peanu…

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Ep. 286: They Taught Us What? (redux) 26:42

3M ago26:42

26:42

We all did it. We all went to school with open minds, excited to learn new things. We, here in the U.S., learned a lot about our country’s history. Interestingly, with the lens of current knowledge, we now know that a lot of what we learned was not exactly correct. In this episode, Jon and Kurt unearth some of these discrepancies and attempt to set…

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Ep. 285: If Famous People Were A Cocktail 45:39

3M ago45:39

45:39

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. We do it all the time…giving inanimate objects human-like characteristics. Well, in this episode, Jon and Kurt turn that on its head and decide to give humans the qualities of inanimate objects. In this case, the boys pick famous people and present a…

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Ep. 284: Big Bad Ben (redux) 26:53

3M ago26:53

26:53

Ben Franklin is deeply embedded in the American ethos. He was a Founding Father, an inventor, a printer, an author, a diplomat, a man about town, to name just a few of his talents. He was prolific to say the least and was a true Renaissance man. In this episode, Jon and Kurt marvel at his successes and share some of his lesser known accomplishments…

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Ep.283: Ok, You’re Famous…But Really? 31:20

3M ago31:20

31:20

Just because you are an incredible inventor, politician, musician, actor, artist, etc. it doesn’t mean you aren’t without your quirks. In this episode, Jon and Kurt reveal some of the, ahem, “odd” traits/behaviors/obsessions of famous folk. Guess it makes us feel better for always wrapping our microphones in baloney before each episode.…

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Ep.282: Why Did We Ever Believe That? 32:05

3M ago32:05

32:05

In searching for answers to quell fears or explain life’s quirks, humans have oft come up with some pretty bizarre beliefs. Tomatoes are poison? Witches steal a particular male body part and keep them for pets? Baths are dangerous? Photographs steal your soul? Ya, pretty funny yet weird stuff in which we used to believe. Jon and Kurt use this episo…

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Ep. 281: Say that Again? (redux) 24:39

4M ago24:39

24:39

Jon and Kurt return to a theme from the early days of Smart Drivel as they give examples and discuss sayings that just make no sense. Some, like “on cloud 9” confuse one and not the other while others, such as “the exception proves the rule” require much thought. They agree on some, bring up some classics like “pick the low hanging fruit” and try n…

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Ep.280: Beware the Small Things 31:44

4M ago31:44

31:44

We always worry about the large looming events that change history. Yet, often, history’s pages are changed not by some titanic event (pun intended), but by small, seemingly inconsequential occurrences. A wrong turn, a different kind of rivet, a misplaced comma, a cuppa tea, a laziness in rushing out on vacation, etc. all led to seismic changes in …

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Ep. 279: Cat Got Your Tongue? 36:55

4M ago36:55

36:55

Jon and Kurt wonder at the pervasive use of animal idioms in everyday conversation. Why do we call someone a Black Sheep? Or accuse someone of crying Crocodile Tears? What is a Paper Tiger and who famously made it into an insult to his enemies? Get the Albatross From Around Your Neck or the Monkey Off Your Back and have a listen. This episode is Th…

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Ep.278 Murphy’s Law 33:34

4M ago33:34

33:34

No, dear listener, this episode is not about everything that can go wrong in a podcast episode will go wrong. It is, however, a quick dive into Named Laws of nature or corporate life or technology or etc. Jon and Kurt share and discuss “laws” that are named after people. Where did they come from? Why were they so named? What did they seek to memori…

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Ep. 277: Epic Failures (redux) 27:10

5M ago27:10

27:10

There is an actual “Museum of Failures” which memorializes products that were massive failures. Classics like “neon green Heinz Ketchup” and “Spray on Condoms” (yes, you read that correctly) are on exhibit as are countless others that, while born out of innovation, just never made it. Jon and Kurt highlight a few of the juiciest failures and have f…

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Ep. 276: What's Gucci (redux) 26:14

5M ago26:14

26:14

Kurt and Jon explore the disorienting land defined by the Urban Dictionary and learn more than they bargained for. As it turns out, Kurt is equally at home with hors d'oeuvres as well as store d'oeuvres. One is consumed in a friend's living room. The other at Costco. If you don't know what it means to be a body booker, say, "Damn, Gina," or engage …

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Ep.275: No Way That is True (redux) 25:08

5M ago25:08

25:08

Did you know that the words written on Twitter every single day would fill a book of ten million pages? Did you know that “buttload” is an actual measurement? Jon and Kurt have fun in this episode doling out seemingly ridiculous statements that are actually true. They sound faker than Kurt’s french accent, but are 100% correct.…

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Ep.274: Wait…Wait…What %???!!! 33:41

5M ago33:41

33:41

It started innocently enough when Kurt drove by a parking lot full of fire trucks, lights flashing, but no fire. And it got them thinking, what % of a firefighters day is actually spent fighting fires? (Answer given in the episode.) From there, Jon and Kurt decided it would make a fun game show to ask each other to guess what the % answer was to in…

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Ep. 273: Men are Stupid 30:40

6M ago30:40

30:40

The boys decide to give in to their genetic hard-coding and spend an episode exploring what makes the male human do so many idiotic things. Throughout the ages, it seems that those with the Y chromosome have simply not evolved. The “why women outlive men” trend on social media has it right. Tragically funny and infinitely ludicrous, Jon and Kurt di…

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Ep.272: Pet Peeve or Pet Pleasure 34:22

6M ago34:22

34:22

The boys are back sharing their feelings. They emote about peeves…yes, all those peeves, be they macro or micro, that get under their skin. But this time, they don’t just dwell on the negative, the bothersome, the nuisances, as they add a new category…pet pleasures. What are those things/experiences/feelings that conjure up releases of dopamine and…

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Ep. 271: Name that Feeling, Part 2 32:09

6M ago32:09

32:09

Having too much fun with the topic, the boys add on to last week’s list and come up with even more new names for ordinary feelings we all have (like when you have an eyelash stuck in your eye).By Smart Drivel Media LLC

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Ep. 270: Name that Feeling, Part 1 28:23

6M ago28:23

28:23

Jon and Kurt pick up the scent from an earlier episode where they discovered John Koenig’s “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.” Basically, he made up words to fit common feelings that deserve and need to be named. Never missing a chance to make up words (in the hopes of one day making it into the OED), Jon and Kurt hope they aren’t thrust into “joc…

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Ep.269:What’s the Difference? (redux) 27:59

7M ago27:59

27:59

Ever wanted to know what the difference is between alligators and crocodiles? Dolphins and porpoises? Further and farther? Whiskey and whisky? Plantains and bananas? You get the gist...this episode has Jon and Kurt exploring and explaining these hugely important differences.By Smart Drivel Media LLC

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Ep. 268: Pepsi's Navy 38:13

7M ago38:13

38:13

What does a Pepsi navy have to do with telling time, reading books, or popes dying? Don’t have a proverbial pot to piss in as you think of the answer? Well, we are sure there is a cool new word that sums up your feelings. And, in this episode, Jon and Kurt bring all of this together to enlighten, enrichen, and possibly entertain.…

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Ep.267: Coincidence? I Think Not. 37:56

7M ago37:56

37:56

Jon and Kurt can’t get enough of sharing things that makes the other say, “I didn’t know that!” They once again use the construct of each relating three little known morsels to one another. From the heights of Mt. Everest to the lows of World War I and lots in between, they give accounts of historical eerie coincidences and puzzling math party tric…

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Ep.266: Don’t Testify in Ancient Rome 34:11

7M ago34:11

34:11

The boys are back at it. They are committed to teaching/relating/sharing with each other unique and oddball things previously unknown. In this episode they talk about exploding whales, dropped bombs, the oldest professions in the world, and the aforementioned weird etymology of the word “testify.” Grab a thing or two and have a listen….…

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Ep. 265: The Mandela Effect (redux) 29:36

7M ago29:36

29:36

Jon and Kurt recently learned of a fascinating human dynamic: there are many instances where large groups of people all swear they know a fact that is indisputable. Yet they are wrong. Their "fact" is completely made up. It is a wild manifestation of being human–certainly AI wouldn’t fall prey to a social current that sweeps up many in its errant t…

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Ep.264: The Great Emu War of 1932 38:06

8M ago38:06

38:06

Jon and Kurt continue with the format of sharing fascinating, entertaining, fun things the other didn’t know. Yes, there was an Emu war. And Ikea sells a gazillion meatballs. There is a species that regenerates. Oh, and we get to hear the two oldest jokes in the world. Pull up a metaphoric stool and hear all about these and others.…

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Ep. 263: 11 Days That Never Happened 34:29

8M ago34:29

34:29

Jon and Kurt seek to educate, enlighten, and entertain each other with information previously unknown–be it of the historical, technological, or linguistic bent. What happened in 1752 that no one remembers? From what common sense practical usage did everyday words come from? And what the hell do you call this cool way of cursing: $@&*#!. Come get s…

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Ep.262: Tech Chicken Littles 36:59

8M ago36:59

36:59

Throughout history, dating as far back as humankind can go, there is an indomitable spirit in people that drives innovation and invention…to make our lives easier and more efficient. This manifested in a way that we kept creating new “technologies” from the umbrella to the printing press to electricity to the automobile to the internet, well you ge…

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Ep. 261: The Secret Lives of Everyday Products 32:35

8M ago32:35

32:35

Jon and Kurt were intrigued by the history, impact, and power of seemingly innocuous everyday items. In this episode they try to make the cast that the utilitarian fork isn’t just about eating, it is representative of the history of humanity. And then they discuss chewing gum and its role in society. You’ll never grab a utensil or chew the same way…

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Ep.260: How Beer Saved the World (redux) 25:27

9M ago25:27

25:27

You might think the common brew/brewski/suds/etc. is just a proletariat beverage more suited to frat brothers than aristocracy. But you would be wrong. Beer has been revered for over 10,000 years as both a nutritious drink and a social elixir. Jon and Kurt follow beer’s impact over the centuries from ancient Egypt to Medieval Europe to the landing …

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Ep.259: The Shape of Things 28:40

9M ago28:40

28:40

Jon and Kurt seek to answer that age-old question: why are things shaped as they are? Is it for practical purposes? Design aesthetics? Efficiency in production? All of the above? Ok, enough questions, how about some answers. In this episode, our two hosts expound on certain well known objects and explain why they are shaped as they are. Traffic con…

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Ep.258: Dirty Sounding Words 32:45

9M ago32:45

32:45

Proving once again that you can take the men out of boyhood but can’t take the boy out of the men (or something like that), Jon and Kurt crack themselves up by sharing a bunch of words that sound really dirty (like clatterfart) but are actually quite innocuous on the word spectrum. So don’t be pusillanimous, put on your headphones, and listen. You …

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Ep.257: Well, How About That! (redux) 27:14

9M ago27:14

27:14

We all go through life blithely using everyday products without knowing why they are what they are or why they have certain qualities. We just accept them for their utility value, not bothering to ask why. Well, phew, thankfully Jon and Kurt have decided to ask the question and this episode brings their answers. Why do winter hats have that pom pon…

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Ep. 256: The Gods Must Be Crazy 30:03

10M ago30:03

30:03

Humanity has long searched beyond the corporeal to find answers to life’s big questions. As part of this, there has always been a place for “gods” in all civilizations. From the omnipotent Zeus to Thor the Thunder God to current "big religions’ gods" to the top pagan deities, gods have played a huge role in creating/guiding/forming life’s overall p…

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Ep. 255: Who Lives At That Address? 34:53

10M ago34:53

34:53

Jon went into the fictional phone book to make a list of home addresses where TV/film/literary characters lived. And then he decided to test Kurt’s knowledge of said addresses, giving him three questions to ask to try and identify who, what, and where lived there. The big question is: can you do better than Kurt did?…

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Ep. 254: Monumental Secrets 38:04

10M ago38:04

38:04

Humans love their monuments…the pyramids, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, the coliseum, etc. But what do we know of them except what we learn from a hard to hear guide on crowded tour when you just want to get to the restaurant for dinner or a wikipedia page that seems to jump centuries like a schoolkid jumping puddles or saying “huh, …

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Ep.253: Old Words We Really Don't Use Anymore (redux) 21:03

10M ago21:03

21:03

Jon and Kurt find amusement (they are easily amused) in discussing words and phrases that were once popular but have now gone out of style. Of course, this is just a launching point for some meandering musings.

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Ep.252: To Err is Human 33:16

10M ago33:16

33:16

Humans make mistakes. They also change their mind. Or think they can improve something. In all these cases, when written, these same humans are grateful for the invention of the eraser. Yes, the eraser. That wonderful piece of technology that gives you a “do-over,” that enables you to take chances, to go outside of your comfort zone knowing you can…

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Ep.251: The Mighty Toothpick 32:36

11M ago32:36

32:36

Jon and Kurt take a deep dive into the history of the pedestrian, utilitarian, humble yet mighty toothpick. From its practical origins to its stint as a status symbol to its reign as the arbiter of cool to its “usage drift,” the toothpick has been a marker of humanity itself. Chomp on a toothpick and do your best James Dean impression and give the …

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Ep. 250: Ten Billion Donuts (redux) 25:54

11M ago25:54

25:54

Join Jon and Kurt for a rollicking, delicious, jaunt through the history of donuts and their role in pop culture. Find out why they (ok, just one of them) call donuts "the Truman Doctrine of Pastries", what Clark Gable and Washington Irving had to say about them, and how the hole came to be. Expect to get a big hankering for a donut...…

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Ep. 249: Up a River Without a Paddle (But not in Saudi Arabia) 26:45

11M ago26:45

26:45

The lads are back with another fun episode of interesting, random, silly facts (like the aforementioned one about Saudi Arabia). How many brains does a leech have? How many words for snow does Scotland have? And how close, via DNA, are we to our fellow humans? What about Bananas?

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Ep.248 Cube Shaped Poop 32:45

11M ago32:45

32:45

Do you know that the longest word in the English language without a true vowel is “Rhythms”? Well, this got Jon and Kurt thinking about other really fun facts that can be used to dazzle friends and confuse enemies. What animal is really good at math? What country is the most densely populated? Whose poops are cube shaped? And why? Join the boys as …

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Ep.247: Back to Square One and Other Fun Phrases 34:38

12M ago34:38

34:38

Hitting a classic Smart Drivel theme or genre or topic (ok ok ok, we get it). Jon and Kurt spend this episode giving the back stories to some of the most classic terms from sports or games. These are expressions we use in everyday life, yet they came from sport, and we get to learn their provenance. Does this seem to be out of left field? Would you…

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Ep.246: Crazy Election Stories 34:53

12M ago34:53

34:53

Jon and Kurt decide to be topical (that is funny in so many ways with these two) for once and have an entire episode dedicated to bizarre, funny, and interesting stories around elections. With the U.S. election just a few weeks away, they look back at memorable moments in campaigning, curious balloting from around the world, funny nicknames for pre…

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Ep.245: I Have To Empty the Lint? 30:56

12M ago30:56

30:56

The boys are back with a new episode dedicated to all those little tasks that take no time off the clock but take a lot of time off our souls. We all have them…tiny things to do that trigger big resistance. Transferring the plates into the dishwasher? Putting on a new roll of toilet paper? You get the idea. Typing liner notes? Oh my….…